Botanical Name: Boswellia serrata Roxb. ex Colebr.
Origin: India
Plant Part: Resin
Cultivation: Wild
Use: Aromatherapy / Natural Perfumery / Incense. Always dilute.
Note: Base Note, Excellent Fixative
Aroma: Warm, resinous, smooth, rich misky/earthy yet subtle aroma; has a slight licorice-like undertone and a light medicinal topnote. Excellent fixative properties.
Overview
Wild Indian Frankincense
This beautiful Frankincense from India is highly prized in perfume formulas as an outstanding fixative and for providing good tenacity. The aroma is warm, resinous, smooth, rich misky/earthy yet subtle, deep, and complex with a slight licorice-like undertone. Its slightly medicinal top note provides 'lift' in perfume formulas.
Frankincense, along with other prized aromatics, spices, precious stones, rare woods, feathers, animal skins and gold, was transported by caravans on the Incense Route and enjoyed a flourishing trade from Yemen and Oman in the Arabian Peninsula to the Mediterranean for nearly 500 years.1 Egyptians used Frankincense in embalming, and the pharaohs believed that burning it allowed them to commune with the gods.2 Its Arabic name, Olibanum, is derived from al Luban, which means milk, a reference to the milky sap that exudes from the wound in a tree after an incision is made in the bark. The sap serves a purpose for the tree as it both heals and seals the wound and prevents infection; this exudate forms resinified ‘tears’ from which Frankincense oils are extracted.3
Once a rare and precious commodity used for millennia by many religious, shamanistic and secular cultures, Frankincense oil, like Myrrh, offers many different therapeutic possibilities. It is especially valued for use in skin care preparations (with Patchouli or Neroli), to facilitate easy breathing (with Lemon or Pine), and for overall wellness (with Palmarosa or Lavender).4 Frankincense is legendary in its traditional and sacred uses and its ability to instill deep tranquility of mind, making it ideal for meditation purposes (with Sandalwood or Orange).5,6 “Soothing and balsamic - on both physical and spiritual levels - Frankincense eases the mind when troubled by thoughts of regret and worries of a mundane kind.”7
Not sure which Frankincense to choose? Please see our Frankincense listing to order a sample.
For information regarding the aromatherapeutic attributes of Frankincense, please see:
L’Aromatherapie Exactement, Pierre Franchomme and Dr. Daniel Pénoël, 1990, p. 328.
Medical Aromatherapy - Healing with Essential Oils, Kurt Schnaubelt, 1999, pp. 206-7.
Aromatherapy Workbook (revised edition), Marcel Lavabre, 1997, pp. 71-2, 137.
Essential Oils - A Handbook for Aromatherapy Practice, Jennifer Peace Rhind, 2012, p. 153.
The Art of Aromatherapy, Robert Tisserand, 1977, p. 230.
"Frankincense Review: Classification by Chemotype Rather Than Just Species," Dr Robert S Pappas, December 2015, https://www.facebook.com/notes/essential-oil-university/frankincense-review-classification-by-chemotype-rather-than-just-species/10153910878393083/
"Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activity of Different Fractions of Boswellia Serrata," A Sharma, S Bhatia, et al., International Journal of Phytomedicine, 2010, 2(1), http://www.arjournals.org/index.php/ijpm/article/view/93
"Parameters optimization of supercritical fluid-CO2 extracts of frankincense using response surface methodology and its pharmacodynamics effects," J Zhou, XM Ma, et al., J Separation Sci, January 2013, 36(2): 383-390, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23255314
For information regarding the use of Frankincense in natural perfumery, please see:
"Incense, Frankincense : Fragrance Notes," Victoria Frolova at Bois de Jasmin, June 2011, https://boisdejasmin.com/2011/06/perfume-lexicon-fragrance-notes-incense-frankincense.html
"Aphrodisiac of the Day: Frankincense," Ayala Moriel at Smellyblog, January 2012, http://ayalasmellyblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/aphrodisac-of-day-frankincense.html
"Frankincense and Myrrh in Perfumery: Holy Smoke & Mighty Aphrodite," Elise Pearlstine at CaFleureBon, December 2012, http://www.cafleurebon.com/cafleurebon-frankincense-and-myrrh-in-perfumery-holy-smoke-mighty-aphrodite-12-natural-niche-perfume-prizes/
Aromatic Profile: Warm, resinous, smooth, rich misky/earthy yet subtle aroma; has a slight licorice-like undertone and a light medicinal topnote. Excellent fixative properties.
Appearance: Clear, slightly viscous, transparent, mobile liquid.
Blending Suggestions: Dilute and add drop by drop to your blends until the desired effect is achieved.
Blends Well With: Bergamot, Cinnamon, Clary Sage, Clove, Cypress, Galbanum, Geranium, Ginger, Jasmine, Juniper, Labdanum, Lavender, Lotus (Pink), Mandarin, Myrrh, Neroli, Oakmoss, Palo Santo, Patchouli, Petitgrain Mandarin, Pine, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Thyme, Tobacco, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang. “Gives delightful effects in citrus colognes… “incense” type perfumes… and is an important ingredient in many Oriental bases, ambres [sic], “powder” type perfumes, floral perfumes, citrus colognes, spice blends, violet type perfumes, “men’s fragrances”, etc.”8
Safety Considerations: Skin sensitization if oxidized; old or oxidized oils should be avoided.9 Dilute before using. A patch test should be performed before use for those with sensitive skin.
1 “Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev,” UNESCO, World Heritage List, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1107
2 http://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/28/science/ruins-in-yemeni-desert-mark-route-of-frankincense-trade.html
3 http://www.sacredearth.com/ethnobotany/plantprofiles/frankincense.php
4 Rhind, Jennifer Peace. Essential Oils - A Handbook for Aromatherapy Practice, Jennifer Peace Rhind, 2012, p. 153.
5 Hoffman, David. The New Holistic Herbal, 1991, p. 14.
6 Mojay, Gabriel. Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit, 1996, pp.74-75, 138.
7 Ibid, p. 138.
8 Arctander, Steffen. Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, pp. 466-7.
9 Tisserand, Robert and Rodney Young. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed., 2014, p. 288.
About Our Products:
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How Best To Use These Oils:
There are many, many ways to use Essential Oils, here are just a few...
Oil Burners - One of the most popular ways is using them with an oil burner. Adding a few drops to your oil burner will create a lasting beautiful aroma, you can also mix oils to create your own smell.
Bath - Adding a few drops of our oils to your bath creates a heavenly, natural and pure aroma, and is proven to be a highly effective way get the most our of essential oils.
Massage - Our oils are strong, so please do not use them directly on your skin. Adding a few drops to a carrier oils (such as Grapeseed oil), and then massaging it on to your forehead, palms, neck, back, feet or other affected areas work wonders.
Making your own products - Many of you like create your own soaps, candles and beauty products, and these oils are perfect for that. They are of therapeutic grade, natural, pure and all hand bottled in the UK, making them ideal for you creative souls out there who make your own products.
Others - Other popular ways apart from the above include, de-humidifiers, diffusers, on your pillow at night, meditation, car air fresheners and in steam / saunas.
Warning:
* For external us only. Do not use essential oils internally.
* Do not apply directly to skin (sensitive skin); always dilute with carrier oil. Do a small test first.
* Keep out of reach of children.
* Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes.
* Avoid pro-longed exposure to direct sunlight.
* Use only pure essential oils
* Store essential oils and carrier oils properly to avoid degradation and rancidity.
* Do not use on children, or when pregnant or while using medication.
* An essential oil should not be used instead of seeing a doctor for medical advice.
* Never self-prescribe and if in doubt please ask your doctor.
* If an allergic reaction occurs or you get the oil in your eyes then wash away the oil with water and then seek medical attention straight away.
Use by: We suggest using your oil within 12 months of purchase. Some will last longer and some scents mature with age.
Please note: Eden Essential Oil accepts no liability for misuse of any of our products.